Folding metallic signal-flag.



PATENTBD IEB. 19, 1907.

W. I. WALSH. FOLDING METALLIC SIGNAL FLAG.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1906.

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N0. 844,637. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

Y W. I. WALSH.

I 'OLDING METALLIC SIGNAL FLAG.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. 1906.

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FOLDING METALLIC SIGNAL-FLAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed April 12, 1906. Serial No. 311,353.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FRANCIS WALSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pocatello, in the county of Bannock and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Metallic Signal-Flags; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it .appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in signal-flags.

The object of the invention is to provide a flag of this character constructed of separate slats or bars of metal and means to connect said bars with a staff, whereby the former may be opened to an operative position or folded to a closed position.

A further object is to provide a device of this character adapted to contain flags of two or more colors, any of which may be unfolded and displayed without interference of the others.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying' drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the flag, showing the same in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in closed position. Fig. 3 is a side view of one side of the flag and its supporting-staff with the easing removed and the slats or bars of the flag in open position. Fig. 4 is a similar view Awith the slats or bars of the flag in closed position. Fig. 5 is an edge View of the staff with the bars or slats in closed position and the easing removed and Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the complete flag, showing the bars or slats on one side of the staff in an open position and on the opposite side in closed position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l denotes the staff or supporting-bar of the flag, said stafll being here shown and is preferably in the form of a flat metal bar having on its upper end an upwardly-projecting stud 2 and on its lower end an annular socket 3. Below the socket 8 and preferably formed integrally therewith is a stern or shank L1, threaded on its lower end, as shown. Adapted to be loosely connected or mounted on the shank 4 is a conical-shaped or tapering sleeve or ferrule 5, formed of metal or wood, as desired. The sleeve 5 is held on the shank 4 by means of a washer 6 and a nut 7, adapted to be screwed onto the lower threaded end of the shank, as shown. By means of the sleeve or ferrule 5 the flag is adapted to be inserted in or engaged with the usual flagsocket employed on railway-cars or locomotives.

Formed in the staff or bar 1 adjacent to one edge is a series of pivot-holes S, through which are adapted to be inserted rivets 9 or other fastening devices, by means of which a series of slats or bars 10 may be pivotally mounted on the opposite sides of the staff 1. The slats or bars 10 maybe of any suitable width, and as many of said bars may be employed as desired. The bars are pivotally connected by the rivets 9 at their inner upper corners and when in an open or unfolded position will lie one above the other, as shown. On the inner end of each of the slats or bars 1() is formed a downwardly and inwardly projccting lug 12, the lug of one slat or bar slightly overlapping the inner end of the next adjacent lower bar, thereby causing the slats to lie in slightly difl'erent vertical planes or providing a slight space between each slat, which will facilitate the folding of the latter as well as providin Y for the passage of dust or dirt between the slats, which will materially assist in preventing the accumulation of dirt upon the flag, thereby keeping the colors of the same bright and clean. The downwardly and inwardly projecting lugs 12 of the bars or slats 10 are pivotally attached together by a connecting-bar 13, said bar being here shown and is preferably in the form of a strip of metal bent upon itself longitudinally to form a channel-shaped construction between the sides of which the lugs 12 are pivoted, as shown. By means of the connecting-bars 13 the slats or bars of the flag are moved in unison to open or close the same to an operative or inoperative position, as will be understood.

Adapted to be arranged upon the staff 1 over the slats or bars of the flag is a cylindrical casing 14, said casing being provided on its upper end with a cap 15, in which is IOO .ag in .an operative position. Y'will be vautomatically engaged with the recess in the lower end of the casing to hold the latter in place on the stati, substantially as formed a centrally-disposed aperture through which the stud 2 is adapted to pass. The lower open end of the casing is adapted to be slipped into the socket 3 and is held therein by means of a spring-catch 16, which is secured at one end to the outer side of the socket and has at its inner end an inwardlyprojecting stud 17. The stud 17 is adapted to project through an aperture 18 in the wall of the socket and to engage an alined aperture in the lower end or the casing, thereby removably holding the same in place on the stati. The casing 14 is provided in one side with a longitudinally-disposed passage or slot through which the slats or bars of the flag are adapted to project when the latter are in an open or operative position. In the kopposite edges of the slat 18 are formed otisets or recesses 19, with which the lower slat when the slats are in an open position, thereby supporting said slats and preventing the same from being closed.

IVhen it is desired to open or unfold the slats on one side or the other on the stati 1, the catch 16 is released and the casing 14 slipped upwardly on the staff, after which the desired slats are raised or unfolded and the casing again slipped onto the stati` until the recess 19 is opposite the lower slat of the flag, at which time the casing is given a slight twist, which will engage said slat with the recess, and thereby hold ,the slats or bars of the The catch 16 described.

The slats or bars of the iiag on opposite sides of the stati' 1 are of diiierent colors, the colors being of a brilliant or intense character, whereby the same may be discerned a long distance. I/Vhile I have shown and described but two sets of bars arranged on the staff 1, it is obvious that by increasing the width oi said staff more slats or bars may be arranged on the opposite edge of the same, thus providing for a greater number of colors, as will be understood.

By the use of a signal-flag constructed as here shown and described the troubles and ditliculties occurring with the use of a flexible ilag by the wrapping of the same around the stattq will be obviated, and by pivotally mounting the lower end or shank of the staff in a sleeve, as herein shown and described, the lag will be permitted to turn or swing with the wind.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacriiicing any of the advantages of this invention as denned by the appended claims.

Iiaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ilag, the combination with a supporting-bar having on its lower `end 'a socket and a shank or stem depending from said socket and having a tapered sleeve rotatably mounted on said shank, of a series of metallic slats pivotally mounted at their inner upper corners on the sides of said bar, ya casing adapted to be arranged on said bar to cover said bar and slats when in an inoperative p0- sition and means arranged yon said socket to removably secure said casing in place on kthe supporting-bar.

2. In a folding flag, the combination with a supporting-bar having on its lower end a socket and a shank depending from. said socket and having a tapered sleeve rotatably mounted on said shank, a vseries of metallic slats pivotally mountedat their inner upper corners on the sides of said bar, a connectingrod pivotally secured to the lower corners of said slats whereby the latter are simultaneously unfolded Vinto an operative or inoperative position, a casing adapted to be arranged on said bar to cover the slats when in an inoperative position and means arranged on said socket to removably secure said casing in place on .thesupporting-bar.

3. Ina iiag of the character described, the combination with a supporting-bar or stati" having on its upper end a stud and on its lower end an annular socket provided with a stem or shank, of a series of slats or bars pivotally connected at their inner upper corners to the sides of `said supporting-bar or staif, lugs formed on the inn er lower corners of said bars or slats, a connecting-bar pivotally secured to each of said lugs whereby said blades may be raised or lowered, a longitudinallyslotted casing arranged on said staiip to cover said bars or slats when the latter are in a folded position, a springcatch to removably hold said casing in place on said staff, and means on said casing to hold said bars or slats in an open or operative position, substantially as described.

4. In a flag of the character described, the combination with a supporting-bar or stati having on its lower end an annular socket and a stem or shank, of a series of slats or bars pivotally mounted on the side of said stati, a connecting-rod pivotally secured to the inner end of each yof said bars, whereby the same are simultaneously moved, a casing arranged on said stati, said casing having IOO IOS

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In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 1n presence of two subscribmg wlt- 1o messes.

VILLIAM FRANCIS VALSI-I.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES I-IEMPIIILL, THOMAS D. GILMORE. 

